
Black plate (35,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Object Detection Systems
Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA)
For vehicles with the Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
(URPA) system, it operates at speeds less than 8 km/h
(5 mph), and assists the driver with parking and
avoiding objects while in R (Reverse). The sensors on
the rear bumper are used to detect the distance to an
object up to 2.5 m (8 ft) behind the vehicle, and at least
25 cm (10 in) off the ground.
{WARNING:
The Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)
system does not replace driver vision. It cannot
detect:
.Objects that are below the bumper,
underneath the vehicle, or too close or far
from the vehicle.
.Children, pedestrians, bicyclists, or pets.(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
If you do not use proper care before and while
backing, vehicle damage, injury, or death could
occur. Even with URPA, always check behind the
vehicle before backing up. While backing, be sure
to look for objects and check the vehicle's mirrors.
How the System Works
URPA comes on automatically when the shift lever
is moved into R (Reverse). A single tone sounds to
indicate the system is working.
URPA operates only at speeds less than
8 km/h (5 mph).
An obstacle is indicated by audible beeps. The interval
between the beeps becomes shorter as the vehicle gets
closer to the obstacle. When the distance is less than
30 cm (12 in) the beeps are continuous.
To be detected, objects must be at least 25 cm (10 in)
off the ground and below trunk level. Objects must
also be within 2.5 m (8 ft) from the rear bumper. This
distance may be less during warmer or humid weather.
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Black plate (37,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
WARNING: (Continued)
Failure to use proper care when changing lanes
may result in damage to the vehicle, injury,
or death. Always check the outside and rearview
mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and use the
turn signal before changing lanes.
When the system detects a vehicle in the side blind
zone, amber SBZA displays will light up in the side
mirrors. This indicates that it may be unsafe to change
lanes. Before making a lane change, always check the
SBZA display, check the outside and rearview mirrors,
look over your shoulder for vehicles and hazards, and
use the turn signal.
SBZA Detection Zones
The SBZA sensor covers a zone of approximately one
lane over from both sides of the vehicle, 3.5 m (11 ft).
This zone starts at each side mirror and goes back
approximately 5 m (16 ft). The height of the zone is
approximately between 0.5 m (1.5 ft) and 2.0 m (6 ft) off
the ground.
The SBZA detection zones do not change if the vehicle
is towing a trailer. So be extra careful when changing
lanes while towing a trailer.
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Black plate (38,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
How the System Works
Left Side Mirror DisplayRight Side Mirror Display
When the vehicle is started, both outside mirror displays
will briefly come on to indicate that the system is
operating. While driving forward, the left or right side
mirror SBZA display will light up if a vehicle is detected
in that blind zone. If you activate a turn signal and a
vehicle has been detected on the same side, the SBZA
display will flash to give you extra warning not to
change lanes.
SBZA displays do not come on while the vehicle is
approaching or passing other vehicles. At speeds
greater then 20 mph (32 km/h), SBZA displays may
come on when a vehicle you have passed remains in or
drops back into the detection zone. SBZA can be disabled through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
on
page 4‑42for more information. If the SBZA is disabled
by the driver, the SBZA mirror displays will not light up
during normal driving.
When the System Does Not Seem To Work
Properly
Occasional missed alerts can occur under normal
circumstances and will increase in wet conditions.
The system does not need to be serviced due to an
occasional missed alert. The number of missed alerts
will increase with increased rainfall or road spray.
If the SBZA displays do not light up when the system is
on and vehicles are in the blind zone, the system may
need service. Take the vehicle to your dealer.
SBZA is designed to ignore stationary objects; however,
the system may occasionally light up due to guard rails,
signs, trees, shrubs, and other stationary objects. This
is normal system operation, the vehicle does not need
service.
SBZA does not operate when the left or right corners of
the rear bumper are covered with mud, dirt, snow, ice,
slush, or in heavy rainstorms. For cleaning instructions,
see Washing Your Vehicle
on page 6‑102. If the DIC still
displays the SIDE BLIND ZONE SYS. UNAVAILABLE
message after cleaning the bumper, see your dealer.
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Black plate (40,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
The vehicle may have a Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) system. Read this entire section before using the
system.
{WARNING:
The Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system does
not steer the vehicle and is only an aid to help
you stay in your driving lane. The LDW system
may not:
.Provide you with enough time to avoid a lane
change collision.
.Be loud enough for you to hear the warning
beeps.
.Work properly under bad weather conditions
or if the windshield is not kept clean.
.Detect lane markings and will not detect road
edges.
.Warn you that your vehicle is crossing a lane
marking if the system does not detect the lane
marking.(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
LDW will indicate the system is working whenever
it detects either the left or right lane marking. So if
you depart on the side of the lane that LDW is not
detecting, LDW will not warn you.
If you do not carefully maintain your vehicle
position within the lane, vehicle damage, injury,
or death could occur. Even with LDW, always
keep your attention on the road and maintain
proper vehicle position within the lane. Always
keep the windshield clean and do not use LDW in
bad weather conditions.
When the vehicle crosses a detected lane marking, the
LDW symbol will flash and you will hear three beeps.
LDW will not warn you if the turn signal is on or if you
make a sharp maneuver. Before making a lane change,
check the vehicle's mirrors, glance over your shoulder
for vehicles and hazards, and start the turn signal
before changing lanes.
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Black plate (41,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
How the System Works
LDW uses a camera located between the inside
rearview mirror and the windshield to detect the lane
markings.
@(Lane Departure Warning):To turn LDW on and
off, press the LDW control, located by the exterior
headlamp control. An indicator on the control will light to
indicate that LDW is on.
When the vehicle is started, the LDW symbol, located in
the instrument panel cluster, will briefly come on to
indicate that the light is operational. LDW only operates at speeds of 35 mph (56 km) or
greater. If LDW is turned on when traveling at these
speeds, the LDW symbol will appear green if the
system detects a left or right lane marking. This symbol
will change to amber and flash and three beeps will
sound if you cross a detected lane marking without
using the turn signal.
If the LDW symbol does not appear, LDW is not
currently operating and will not warn you.
To change the volume of the warning chime, see Chime
Volume under
DIC Vehicle Customization
on page 4‑58for more information.
When the System Does Not Seem To Work
Properly
The LDW symbol will not appear when the system is
having difficulty seeing the lines on the road or if the
view of the camera on the windshield is blocked with
mud, dirt, snow, ice, or slush, if the windshield is
damaged, or when weather limits visibility, such as
while driving in fog, rain, or snow conditions. This is
normal operation, the vehicle does not need service.
For cleaning instructions, see Washing Your Vehicle
on
page 6‑102.
LDW warnings may occasionally occur due to tar
marks, shadows, cracks in the road, or other road
imperfections. This is normal system operation, the
vehicle does not need service.
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Black plate (5,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
An arrow on the
instrument panel cluster
flashes in the direction of
the turn or lane change.
For vehicles with the side blind zone alert system, an
arrow in the outside mirror flashes when the turn signal
is used. See Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
on
page 3‑36for more information.
Move the lever all the way up or down to signal a turn.
Raise or lower the lever until the arrow starts to flash to
signal a lane change. Hold it there until the lane change
is complete. If the lever is briefly pressed and released,
the turn signal will flash three times.
The lever returns to its starting position when it is
released.
If after signaling a turn or lane change the arrow flashes
rapidly or does not come on, a signal bulb may be
burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb is not burned out,
check the fuse. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers
on
page 6‑108.
Turn Signal On Chime
If the turn signal is left on, a warning chime sounds and
the Driver Information Center (DIC) will display TURN
SIGNAL ON after driving about a mile as a reminder to
turn it off. See DIC Warnings and Messages
on
page 4‑49.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam,
push the turn signal lever away from you. To change
from high beam to low beam, pull the turn signal lever
toward you.
While the high beams are
on, this light located on
the instrument panel
cluster will also be on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam headlamps to
signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even if your headlamps are off.
Pull the turn signal lever toward you briefly to
flash-to-pass.
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Black plate (19,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
<(Rear Window Defogger):Press to turn the rear
window defogger on or off. An indicator light below the
button comes on to show that the rear window defogger
is on. Be sure to clear as much snow from the rear
window as possible.
The rear window defogger only works when the
ignition is in ON/RUN. The rear window defogger stays
on for about 20 minutes after the button is pressed if
traveling at slow speeds. At higher vehicle speeds, the
rear defogger may stay on continuously. If turned on
again, the defogger only runs for about 10 minutes
before turning off. The defogger can be turned off by
pressing the button again, by turning the ignition to
ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN, or by turning off the
engine. If the vehicle has heated outside rearview mirrors, the
mirrors heat to help clear fog or frost from the surface
of the mirror when the rear window defogger is on.
See
Outside Heated Mirrors
on page 3‑34for more
information.
Notice: Do not use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not attach a
temporary vehicle license, tape, a decal, or anything
similar to the defogger grid.
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Black plate (24,1)Buick Lucerne Owner Manual - 2011
There is also an interior temperature sensor located
next to the steering wheel that measures the
temperature of the air inside the vehicle.
There is also an exterior temperature sensor located
behind the front grille. This sensor reads the outside air
temperature and helps maintain the temperature inside
the vehicle. Any cover on the front of the vehicle could
cause a false temperature reading to display.
In order to prevent false temperature readings at
startup, the displayed temperature will not change
until the following occurs:
.Vehicle speed is above 10 mph (16 km/h) for
five minutes.
.Vehicle speed is above 32 mph (51 km/h) for
two and a half minutes.
The climate control system uses the information from
these sensors to maintain your comfort setting by
adjusting the outlet temperature, fan speed, and the
air delivery mode. The system may also supply cooler
air to the side of the vehicle facing the sun. The
recirculation mode will also be used as needed to
maintain cool outlet temperatures.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog or frost from the rear window.
<(Rear Defogger): Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. An indicator light below the button
comes on to show that the rear window defogger is on.
Be sure to clear as much snow from the rear window as
possible.
The rear window defogger only works when the ignition
is in ON/RUN. The rear window defogger stays on for
about 20 minutes after the button is pressed if the
vehicle is traveling at slower vehicle speeds. At higher
vehicle speeds the rear window defogger may stay on
continuously. If turned on again, the defogger only runs
for about 10 minutes before turning off. The defogger
can be turned off by pressing the button again, by
turning the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN,
or by turning off the engine.
The heated outside rearview mirrors will heat to help
clear fog or frost from the surface of the mirror when
the rear window defogger is on. See Outside Heated
Mirrors
on page 3‑34for more information.
Notice: Do not use a razor blade or sharp object
to clear the inside rear window. Do not adhere
anything to the defogger grid lines in the rear glass.
These actions may damage the rear defogger.
Repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
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